04/15/2013

In class last Thursday we worked together to create a paragraph in class (and then we even had JJ give us some outstanding feedback!!!).

Here is what we created that day, with some description of the steps we took.

1. We thought about some of the kinds of things from Bain that we could respond to in our paper; here is the short list we assembled (the text has many, many, other ideas you could work your paragraphs around): from this list we chose "self-compassion."

Intrinsic Motivation 23

Self-compassionate 172

Metacognition 24

Creativity

Critical Thinking

Connection to World / Community

Integration

Responding to Failure

Curiosity

Ill-structured problems 135

2. Once you have a concept in mind, find a specific passage from Bain that you wish to respond being careful to study the pages around that passage too.

We chose this one: “Only when you confront your actions with compassion and understanding can you change them” (173). But we only did so after we spent some time reviewing the paragraphs before and after it--clarifying our ideas.

3. Remind myself of guiding question for paragraph: write that out! Here is what we came up with in class:

What relationship does Bain’s concept of self-compassion have to my own educational experience?

4. Teach the concept (which means I need to have understood it) – so study first! Once you have done that, draft some sentences that explain the concept you will discuss to your reader. Here is what we came up with:

In Chapter Six, Bain introduces the idea of self-compassion as a tool that many successful students employ. Based on the ideas of Kristin Neff, Bain’s version of self-compassion focuses on “self-kindness,” “common humanity,” and “mindfulness” (172-174). His research suggests that highly successful students learn how to take care of themselves when they make mistakes or fail. Instead of feeling racked with guilt and anxiety, the self-compassionate treat themselves like a friend might: working through problems, rather than obsessing over them and putting personal issues into a larger human context. According to Bain, “Only when you confront your actions with compassion and understanding can you change them” (173).

Please note: when we first introduced a quote, we immediately added the text to our works cited page:

Works Cited

Bain, Ken. What the Best College Students Do. Cambridge: Bellnap Press of Harvard

University, 2012. Print.

5. Once you have tought the concept (to yourself and your reader), you need to apply it to your own life and or test it against your own ideas, experiences, readings, etc. Here is what we drafted for that stage.

This idea makes a mockery of my approach to error. Instead of treating myself kindly, I, almost literally, beat the crap out of myself over my errors, often driving myself to paralysis, the local Carl’s Jr. or both! One example of this kind of self-inflicted agony is a struggled I had with my own behavior at Academic Senate Council meetings last semester. When my friends informed me that I was becoming almost belligerent at these meetings. I wish I had walked myself through Bain’s ideas about self-compassion. Had I treated myself like a friend and put my feelings in the context of how others felt about the governance process on campus, I think I would have learned more quickly how to change my sitaution and find some inner peace.

6. Evaluate Bain's ideas based on your application of these ideas. Here is what I have for that ....

Thinking about this experience and many other moments like it lead me to believe that Bain's ideas about self-compassion could have a dramatically positive impact on my life as a teacher and learner. In the days, weeks, and semesters ahead, I plan to try to treat myself better as I evaluate my inevitable failures and frustrations.

7. And finally, once you have that. Go back and create a topic sentence that answers the guiding question you created way back at the beginning of this process. Here's my sample TS:

Bain’s idea of self-compassion challenges me to develop new strategies
for coping with experiences like the one I had last semester in the
Academic Senate.

Sample Paragraph: So, putting all of these steps together, here is the paragraph we have now:

Bain’s idea of self-compassion challenges me to develop new strategies
for coping with experiences like the one I had last semester in the
Academic Senate. In Chapter Six, Bain introduces the idea of self-compassion as a tool
that many successful students employ. Based on the ideas of Kristin
Neff, Bain’s version of self-compassion focuses on “self-kindness,”
“common humanity,” and “mindfulness” (172-174). His research suggests
that highly successful students learn how to take care of themselves
when they make mistakes or fail. Instead of feeling racked with guilt
and anxiety, the self-compassionate treat themselves like a friend
might: working through problems, rather than obsessing over them and
putting personal issues into a larger human context. According to Bain,
“Only when you confront your actions with compassion and understanding
can you change them” (173). This idea makes a mockery of my approach to error. Instead of treating
myself kindly, I, almost literally, beat the crap out of myself over my
errors, often driving myself to paralysis, the local Carl’s Jr. or both!
One example of this kind of self-inflicted agony is a struggled I had
with my own behavior at Academic Senate Council meetings last semester.
When my friends informed me that I was becoming almost belligerent at
these meetings. I wish I had walked myself through Bain’s ideas about
self-compassion. Had I treated myself like a friend and put my feelings
in the context of how others felt about the governance process on
campus, I think I would have learned more quickly how to change my
sitaution and find some inner peace. Thinking about this experience and many other moments like it lead me to
believe that Bain's ideas about self-compassion could have a
dramatically positive impact on my life as a teacher and learner. In the
days, weeks, and semesters ahead, I plan to try to treat myself better
as I evaluate my inevitable failures and frustrations.

Works Cited

Bain, Ken. What the Best College Students Do. Cambridge: Bellnap Press of Harvard

04/08/2013

Here are a few quick reminders to follow up on class and help you prepare for tomorrow.

Reading: Chapter 7

Writing: Add 500 words of body paragraphs to your paper.

Remember what we practiced in class. Your paragraph should follow a structure something like this:

Your thesis answers your guiding question using an idea from Bain, an active verb, and some aspect of your work as a college student.

The paragraph should then go on to 1) help the reader understand the concept/idea you are responding to from Bain, 2) test that idea from Bain by applying your own experiences, ideas, readings, etc., and 3) evaluate the ways in which Bain's idea is useful and/or problematic.

04/02/2013

Guiding Question for Essay: What is the relationship between Ken Bain's ideas and my work as a college student?

Guiding questions for body paragraphs should be variations of that larger question that focus upon specific ideas from Bain and specific experiences from your work as a college student.

These questions should begin with "how" or "what" and include a) an idea from Bain and b) an aspect of your work as a college student (how it is or how you wish it to be). These two elements can appear in any order that works for you (here and later in your topic sentences).

Examples:

How does Bain's idea of "instrinsic motivation" relate to my expierence in my math classes?

What is the relationship between my chosen major and Bain's ideas about solving "messy" or "ill-structured problems or questions"

How do Bain's ideas about responding to failure reflect cultural assumptions that ultimately makes them unhelpful to my efforts to do better in the courses I struggle with?

What is the relationship between Bain's ideas of "reflective" or "deep" thinking and how I am approaching my classes at MiraCosta right now?

3. A Passage from Bain that you will respond to / discuss in each paragraph (so match each Guiding Question with at least one idea from Bain).